Police have issued a fresh appeal to help find a Birmingham murderer who has been on the run from an open prison for SEVENTEEN years.

Raymond Lenihan, 57, absconded from HMP Sudbury on May 7, 1997, and has not been seen since, despite his picture being released by Derbyshire Police.

He was convicted of murder at Leicester Crown Court on November 18 in 1977 and was serving a life sentence at the time he walked out of the open prison.

Lenihan, who is 5ft 11ins tall and of slim build, is among 12 prisoners who have gone on the run from Sudbury open prison between 1992 and 2006.

Derbyshire Police had issued images of the dozen men earlier this year in the hope the public would recognise them and contact detectives, but none have yet been recaptured.

The fugitives also include Delroy Howe, 45, who was serving seven years for drug offences after being convicted in 1990 at Croydon Crown Court.

Delroy Howe

Howe, who previously lived in Birmingham and Slough, failed to return to Sudbury from temporary leave on December 29, 1992.

Other wanted criminals include Michael Ashworth, 54, who disappeared in 1995 after being jailed for drugs offences, and violent criminal Leslie Warden, 58, who vanished in 1998.

A spokesman for Derbyshire Police said: “The absconders previously lived outside Derbyshire and they could now be anywhere, using different names, and may have changed their appearances since their photographs were taken.

“We work closely with the prison authorities and other police forces to try and find prisoners who have absconded.

“We also regularly ask the public for help in tracking them down, and since we issued the appeal earlier this year, three of the prisoners have been recaptured.

“However, others are still outstanding, and we would urge anyone with information on their whereabouts to contact either the police or Crimestoppers, anonymously.”

Anyone who has information on any of the offenders is asked to call Derbyshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.